This morning on "Starting Point," Southern Baptist Convention's Richard Land argues that allowing gays in the Boy Scouts would violate the group's core values.

"We believe that if they make this decision, it's going to be a catastrophe for the Boy Scouts," Land says. "Yes, we live in a democracy and people can make this choice, but if they do it's going to be a catastrophe because Baptist scouts, and Catholic scouts, and Mormon scouts and Methodist scouts...many of them are going to vote with their feet and leave the Scouts."

"They're cutting out the heart and soul of scouting in the rest of the country," Land adds.

He adds one thing that people aren't discussing in the issue of letting gays in the Boy Scouts comes down to physical attraction.

"Let me say one other thing that nobody wants to talk about. That is that homosexuals by definition are attracted to people of the same sex. Now, I'm not accusing homosexuals of being pedophiles, but I'm accusing homosexuals of being what they said they are: Attracted to males."

"How many people would allow their teenage girls to go on camp outs with heterosexual males? They wouldn't," Land says. "This verges on being beyond the realm of the rational, and it's going to lead to human tragedy...it's going to be sadly boys and men that are going to end up in relationships that are going to be tragic."

Tell us what you think: Do you agree or disagree with Land's opinion of allowing gays in the Boy Scouts?

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Scout

By Land's logic, all of the female Scouters out there should also be excluded from the Boy Scouts and not permitted to attend campouts, which they now regularly do. BTW now girls and boys are involved in Boy Scouts - How does he feel about the mixed gender Venturing units and their mixed gender adult leaders? Should they not go on high adventure outings together?

I have been a mother involved with Scouts for 10 years. I have raised 2 boys in Scouts and my oldest is a Life scout preparing to work on his Eagle project. I think the Boy Scouts of America should not force someone out of scouting because of their sexual preferences. If those preferences lead a man or a boy to act on such attractions then that would be another story. But to condem someone that hasn't done anything wrong is wrong itself. I have watched so many boys work hard to earn their Eagle Rank and to hear that some of them have completed their projects and been turned down because of their sexual preference is appalling. These boys started down a road when they were too young to have a preference and if they earned the Rank – they should be able to receive the rank. I think that we are trying too hard to prevent something that may or may not happen, we as a country seem to be driven by the 'what if's' not the what are's.

I think he has a point.... and... you still can't discriminate according to sexual preference. If this is a culture where boys and girls can't safely camp out with men and women caregivers, then we need to discover what's wrong and institute change. Repression hasn't worked. Religious teachings haven't worked. We need to accept that there is a strong sexual dysfunctionality in our culture and work to normalize sex, to help people find appropriate and safe ways to express their sexuality so that they don't need to go to children or the powerless.

Mr. Wahl spoke eloquently and respectfully while being "spoken down to" by such a narrow-minded man with a hate-filled agenda. I hope his [Mr. Wahl's] parents as well as the Scouting Organization are very proud of him; and that this ridiculous ban is lifted. Not all gay people are pedophiles just as not all faith-followers are intolerant.

The definition of "tolerance" has changed in America. "Tolerance" used to mean when people of different mindsets could listen respectfully to each other, and honestly discuss their true beliefs and opinions with consideration and kindness. But "tolerance" today in America is no longer defined that way. According to those who try to rule from their TV show thrones and radio airwaves, "tolerance" has become a domineering mindset by a few who – like Soledad, that are clearly attempting to advance a radical and specific agenda. Most "news" has ceased to be true "news", and is more personal opinion and agenda driven. People like Soledad can claim "intolerance" even when someone like, for example, Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council on Soledad's "interview" this morning, speaks kindly from their honest and common sense viewpoint. He was raked over for his concern for our children and the possible fallout for the Boy Scouts allowing openly homosexual males to be leaders in that PRIVATE organization. Soledad put words into his mouth that he DID NOT say, insinuating that he was saying something against people who practice homosexuality. He did NOT say anything like that, and was clearly simply stating an honest concern that makes sense! Soledad, why didn't you stick with the topic of WHY he had concerns, instead of making everything into a political issue! Now THAT would be a good interview! What news person can really be taken seriously, when you ask a question and right after you ask it, you interrupt, hassel and sneer at your interviewee? Your facial expressions and way of handling your interviewees you disagree with discredits any weight your opinion might otherwise have when you are so irreverent and unkind. You hardly allowed Mr. Perkins to answer your questions! Why, then, did you have him on – to make him look bad? Therein lies my point of the agenda-driven topics and lack of respect that pervades some "news" shows these days! I for one am TIRED of the "battles" that go on, on "news" shows – just like I have been tired of the political battles between Democrats and Republicans! As with everyone else who has seen your show, I have seen this over and over with many other people you've had on, who apparently don't agree with your viewpoint – to the point I usually end up not watching your show much anymore! Beware, America, start standing up for real respect and decency to each other, no matter what viewpoint we come from! We need to reinstate some Moral Fiber in this nation, or this nation is going to stop being a haven for freedom of YOUR viewpoint!

As far as I can tell, gay boys being in scouts isn't anything new. I've dated two former eagle scouts. From what I've heard that scouts having sex with each other isn't exactly new either. One thing that's been going on as long as those other two is people having to keep it secret. Places with lots of secrets are are ideal places for people with bigger nastier secrets to hide. The current culture of scouts is a veritable safe haven for pedophiles, just as the Catholic Church has been. Let's say it wasn't secret. Would there be more sex or just fewer secrets and fewer places for pedophiles to hide? Of course then there all those scout values of honesty and general niceness. Most gay people are much nicer than your average Baptist minister (I've never met one I could honestly call "nice", there's always something kind of creepy behind the smile). The minister in article above doesn't do anything to dispel that perception.

Would you allow your 7 year-old daughter go on a camping trip with an adult male leader? Would you allow your 7 year-old boy go on a scout trip with a male leader that was sexually attracted to males? It's common sense people!

Well, DUHHHHHH, gays have been in the BoyScouts for years and nothing has happened. Only prejudice bigots say stupid things like this.

Heterosexual behavior and homosexual behavior are normal aspects of human sexuality. Despite the persistence of stereotypes that portray lesbian, gay, and bisexual people as disturbed, several decades of research and clinical experience have led all mainstream medical and mental health organizations in this country to conclude that these orientations represent normal forms of human experience. The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Counseling Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychological Association, the American School Counselor Association, the National Association of School Psychologists, and the National Association of SocialWorkers, together representing more than 480,000 mental health professionals, have all taken the position that homosexuality is not a mental disorder and thus is not something that needs to or can be “cured."

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